Back to Work

Hubbyhubs and I got back last night from our mini-vacation to Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. We had a great time. Our visit was a surprise to his mom, who had been whisked to Portland on the pretense of visiting her aunt. She was stunned to see us, and even more surprised a few hours later when we walked her into a room of 40 people for her surprise party. I didn't get to see too much of Portland, but we did a little shopping in town, and it was very nice. We went to church at St. George in Portland, which was very warm and welcoming. For once, Hubbyhubs won the bet over whether or not I would run into someone I knew at a random Antiochian church. In my defense, the attendance was a little light (it's summer ...) so I still bet that I would know a parishioner there on a regular Sunday.

After that, we drove back to Seattle with the parents, and then Hubbyhubs and I went out to dinner with his friends (my friends too) who just got engaged. As always, the seafood in Seattle was great. We ate at Chinook's and had a lot of fun talking about their wedding plans and other stuff. I really REALLY love not being engaged anymore!

On Monday, we spent the day kind of lazing around the house. I finished a baby sweater for a new baby our friends out there just had, and then we got to deliver it in person. I love little baby boys, and how much they look like angry old men. We had a lot of fun hanging out over there. I am hoping that they will send a picture of him wearing the sweater.

We headed out for a family dinner at the Flying Fish, to celebrate my bday and my brother-in-law's (they are a day apart). I had halibut, and it was fantastic. My present was a book that I am really enjoying, called Three Cups of Tea. It's great so far.

Yesterday (or "lasterday," as my niece says), we woke up, packed, and flew home. We had everything we'd gone out there with, plus a family tree my father-in-law painted for us, a bread machine my mother-in-law picked up for us at a thrift store, and a mirror that H's aunt and uncle gave us as a wedding gift. We managed to get everything home in one piece. I'm excited about the breadmaker.

And now, here we are, back to work. I got a phone call from my niece this morning wishing me a happy belated birthday (ok, she didn't say "belated," but it's not that far out of her vocabulary), and it was great to hear her sweet little voice. My nephew called on my bday and I missed the call, so now I have a fantastic voicemail recording of his two-year-old rendition of Happy Birthday. Best_present_ever.